Cage Fight, ‘Exuvia’ is coming this spring

Their second album will contain eleven songs and will be available on May 1st on Spinefarm. For now, we can enjoy the new videoclip ‘Un bon souvenir’.

UK band Cage Fight (IG: @cagefightldn) will release their second studio album on May 1st via Spinefarm.

Vocalist Rachel Aspe (IG: @rachel_aspe) explains about the first single ‘Un bon souvenir’: «Don’t bite the hand that feeds. This song is a reference to a previous experience in a band controlled by a toxic manipulative person. It’s a reminder that bringing people down won’t elevate you. A challenging experience, but as he once said, it’s still a good memory, ça reste un bon souvenir».

Watch here ‘Un bon souvenir’ videoclip:

On the video, Aspe divulges: «The video depicts the unraveling of the protagonist’s false world, built on manipulation and control. Though he initially appears strong, his convictions are fragile, revealed by his reliance on dark spiritual guidance for reassurance. Once seeming to be the rock of this world, he is exposed as a snake. This is the collapse of a false king».

‘Exuvia’ retains the raw, old school hardcore heart of Cage Fight. At the same time, it also explores more multi-layered terrains, atmospheres and melodies, making its sound bigger, tighter and more epic than ever before. Throughout the 11 pieces of music, the band prove they aren’t afraid to experiment and have a bit of fun.

A case in point is ‘Pick your fighter’, which features Julien Truchan from Benighted on guest vocals, and was inspired by a French pop song – ‘Et c’est parti…’ by Nâdiya – though you’d never guess it from the song’s crushing heaviness.

The rest of the lyrics on ‘Exuvia’ are written by Rachel – the first time she has expressed herself in this way, and the results are deeply personal, taking in anxiety, assault and having to deal with grief. Expansive final track, ‘Élégie’, is about losing her grandfather, and the regret that can come from things left unsaid.

On ‘Pig’, meanwhile, she calls out the creepy men who send women unsolicited messages online, while the title track was inspired by her grandmother, who is currently battling cancer, and who helped Rachel write the lyrics for the song.

The album’s cover art, shot by photographer Manuel Acqualeni, depicts a radiation mask, establishing a connection both to Rachel’s experience with her grandmother and to the album’s title – ‘Exuvia’ can be defined as a cast-off skin or outer shell. It also represents healing, something Rachel feels she has achieved by opening up in the lyrics.

Cage Fight, Exuvia artwork, @cagefightldn